Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-6021.00
Press or shape articles by hand or machine.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.14
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only28 rated tasks · 1 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (3.6%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Examine and measure finished articles to verify conformance to standards, using measuring devices such as tape measures and micrometers.O*NET Task ID 14059 | 0.5 |
Operate steam, hydraulic, or other pressing machines to remove wrinkles from garments and flatwork items, or to shape, form, or patch articles.O*NET Task ID 14035 | 0.0 |
Lower irons, rams, or pressing heads of machines into position over material to be pressed.O*NET Task ID 14036 | 0.0 |
Remove finished pieces from pressing machines and hang or stack them for cooling, or forward them for additional processing.O*NET Task ID 14037 | 0.0 |
Hang, fold, package, and tag finished articles for delivery to customers.O*NET Task ID 14038 | 0.0 |
Slide material back and forth over heated, metal, ball-shaped forms to smooth and press portions of garments that cannot be satisfactorily pressed with flat pressers or hand irons.O*NET Task ID 14039 | 0.0 |
Select appropriate pressing machines, based on garment properties such as heat tolerance.O*NET Task ID 14040 | 0.0 |
Push and pull irons over surfaces of articles to smooth or shape them.O*NET Task ID 14041 | 0.0 |
Finish pleated garments, determining sizes of pleats from evidence of old pleats or from work orders, using machine presses or hand irons.O*NET Task ID 14042 | 0.0 |
Straighten, smooth, or shape materials to prepare them for pressing.O*NET Task ID 14043 | 0.0 |
Finish pants, jackets, shirts, skirts and other dry-cleaned and laundered articles, using hand irons.O*NET Task ID 14044 | 0.0 |
Position materials such as cloth garments, felt, or straw on tables, dies, or feeding mechanisms of pressing machines, or on ironing boards or work tables.O*NET Task ID 14045 | 0.0 |
Spray water over fabric to soften fibers when not using steam irons.O*NET Task ID 14046 | 0.0 |
Moisten materials to soften and smooth them.O*NET Task ID 14047 | 0.0 |
Finish velvet garments by steaming them on bucks of hot-head presses or steam tables, and brushing pile (nap) with handbrushes.O*NET Task ID 14048 | 0.0 |
Finish fancy garments such as evening gowns and costumes, using hand irons to produce high quality finishes.O*NET Task ID 14049 | 0.0 |
Activate and adjust machine controls to regulate temperature and pressure of rollers, ironing shoes, or plates, according to specifications.O*NET Task ID 14050 | 0.0 |
Shrink, stretch, or block articles by hand to conform to original measurements, using forms, blocks, and steam.O*NET Task ID 14051 | 0.0 |
Clean and maintain pressing machines, using cleaning solutions and lubricants.O*NET Task ID 14052 | 0.0 |
Block or shape knitted garments after cleaning.O*NET Task ID 14053 | 0.0 |
Insert heated metal forms into ties and touch up rough places with hand irons.O*NET Task ID 14054 | 0.0 |
Brush materials made of suede, leather, or felt to remove spots or to raise and smooth naps.O*NET Task ID 14055 | 0.0 |
Use covering cloths to prevent equipment from damaging delicate fabrics.O*NET Task ID 14056 | 0.0 |
Press ties on small pressing machines.O*NET Task ID 14057 | 0.0 |
Select, install, and adjust machine components, including pressing forms, rollers, and guides, using hoists and hand tools.O*NET Task ID 14058 | 0.0 |
Sew ends of new material to leaders or to ends of material in pressing machines, using sewing machines.O*NET Task ID 14060 | 0.0 |
Measure fabric to specifications, cut uneven edges with shears, fold material, and press it with an iron to form a heading.O*NET Task ID 14061 | 0.0 |
Identify and treat spots on garments.O*NET Task ID 21026 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (28)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Operate steam, hydraulic, or other pressing machines to remove wrinkles from garments and flatwork items, or to shape, form, or patch articles. | Core |
| Lower irons, rams, or pressing heads of machines into position over material to be pressed. | Core |
| Remove finished pieces from pressing machines and hang or stack them for cooling, or forward them for additional processing. | Core |
| Hang, fold, package, and tag finished articles for delivery to customers. | Core |
| Slide material back and forth over heated, metal, ball-shaped forms to smooth and press portions of garments that cannot be satisfactorily pressed with flat pressers or hand irons. | Core |
| Select appropriate pressing machines, based on garment properties such as heat tolerance. | Core |
| Push and pull irons over surfaces of articles to smooth or shape them. | Core |
| Finish pleated garments, determining sizes of pleats from evidence of old pleats or from work orders, using machine presses or hand irons. | Core |
| Straighten, smooth, or shape materials to prepare them for pressing. | Core |
| Finish pants, jackets, shirts, skirts and other dry-cleaned and laundered articles, using hand irons. | Core |
| Position materials such as cloth garments, felt, or straw on tables, dies, or feeding mechanisms of pressing machines, or on ironing boards or work tables. | Core |
| Spray water over fabric to soften fibers when not using steam irons. | Core |
| Moisten materials to soften and smooth them. | Core |
| Finish fancy garments such as evening gowns and costumes, using hand irons to produce high quality finishes. | Core |
| Activate and adjust machine controls to regulate temperature and pressure of rollers, ironing shoes, or plates, according to specifications. | Core |
| Shrink, stretch, or block articles by hand to conform to original measurements, using forms, blocks, and steam. | Core |
| Clean and maintain pressing machines, using cleaning solutions and lubricants. | Core |
| Block or shape knitted garments after cleaning. | Core |
| Press ties on small pressing machines. | Core |
| Identify and treat spots on garments. | Core |
| Finish velvet garments by steaming them on bucks of hot-head presses or steam tables, and brushing pile (nap) with handbrushes. | Supplemental |
| Insert heated metal forms into ties and touch up rough places with hand irons. | Supplemental |
| Brush materials made of suede, leather, or felt to remove spots or to raise and smooth naps. | Supplemental |
| Use covering cloths to prevent equipment from damaging delicate fabrics. | Supplemental |
| Select, install, and adjust machine components, including pressing forms, rollers, and guides, using hoists and hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Examine and measure finished articles to verify conformance to standards, using measuring devices such as tape measures and micrometers. | Supplemental |
| Sew ends of new material to leaders or to ends of material in pressing machines, using sewing machines. | Supplemental |
| Measure fabric to specifications, cut uneven edges with shears, fold material, and press it with an iron to form a heading. | Supplemental |
0.90/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Operate steam, hydraulic, or other pressing machines to remove wrinkles from garments and flatwork items, or to shape, form, or patch articles. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Lower irons, rams, or pressing heads of machines into position over material to be pressed. | E2 structured facilities |
| Remove finished pieces from pressing machines and hang or stack them for cooling, or forward them for additional processing. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Hang, fold, package, and tag finished articles for delivery to customers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Slide material back and forth over heated, metal, ball-shaped forms to smooth and press portions of garments that cannot be satisfactorily pressed with flat pressers or hand irons. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Push and pull irons over surfaces of articles to smooth or shape them. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Finish pleated garments, determining sizes of pleats from evidence of old pleats or from work orders, using machine presses or hand irons. | E0 none |
| Straighten, smooth, or shape materials to prepare them for pressing. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Finish pants, jackets, shirts, skirts and other dry-cleaned and laundered articles, using hand irons. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Position materials such as cloth garments, felt, or straw on tables, dies, or feeding mechanisms of pressing machines, or on ironing boards or work tables. | E0 none |
| Spray water over fabric to soften fibers when not using steam irons. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Moisten materials to soften and smooth them. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Finish fancy garments such as evening gowns and costumes, using hand irons to produce high quality finishes. | E0 none |
| Activate and adjust machine controls to regulate temperature and pressure of rollers, ironing shoes, or plates, according to specifications. | E2 structured facilities |
| Shrink, stretch, or block articles by hand to conform to original measurements, using forms, blocks, and steam. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean and maintain pressing machines, using cleaning solutions and lubricants. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Block or shape knitted garments after cleaning. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Press ties on small pressing machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Identify and treat spots on garments. | E0 none |
| Finish velvet garments by steaming them on bucks of hot-head presses or steam tables, and brushing pile (nap) with handbrushes. | E0 none |
| Insert heated metal forms into ties and touch up rough places with hand irons. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Brush materials made of suede, leather, or felt to remove spots or to raise and smooth naps. | E0 none |
| Use covering cloths to prevent equipment from damaging delicate fabrics. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Select, install, and adjust machine components, including pressing forms, rollers, and guides, using hoists and hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Examine and measure finished articles to verify conformance to standards, using measuring devices such as tape measures and micrometers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Sew ends of new material to leaders or to ends of material in pressing machines, using sewing machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Measure fabric to specifications, cut uneven edges with shears, fold material, and press it with an iron to form a heading. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 26K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 22K
- Change (2025–35)
- -15.7%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $35,060
- Typical education needed for entry
- No formal educational credential
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 82309 | 그 외 세탁 기계 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 99920 | 세탁원 및 다림질원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 9121Hand Launderers and Pressers
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- wearing apparel presserESCO 9121.2Same scope
Wearing apparel pressers use steam irons, vacuum pressers, or hand pressers to shape wearing apparel.
- laundry ironerESCO 8157.1.1This occupation is broader
Laundry ironers re-shape clothing items and linen and remove creases from them by using irons, presses and steamers. They clean and maintain the ironing and drying area and organise the items accordingly.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| D1236 | Repasseur / Repasseuse | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| H2420 | Repasseur / Repasseuse en industrie textile et de l'habillement | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| H2410 | Opérateur / Opératrice de finition en industrie du textile | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| D1242 | Linger / Lingère | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| K2201 | Employé / Employée de blanchisserie industrielle | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 8170 | Operadores de máquinas de lavandería y tintorería | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| 9221 | Limpiadores en seco a mano y afines | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| 8154 | Operadores de máquinas de blanquear, teñir, estampar y acabar textiles | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 54132 | Berufe in der Textilreinigung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the same |
| 54101 | Berufe in der Reinigung (ohne Spezialisierung) - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 385 | クリーニング職 | Related, not a match |
| 535 | 紡織・衣服・繊維製品製造従事者 | Related, not a match |
| 386 | 洗張職 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources